20:52 Ripon

Wednesday 4 June 2025

All18:1518:5019:2219:5220:2220:52

Ripon Theatre Festival 1st-6th July Handicap

Off time: 20:52 | Winning time: 1m 40.86s

(4)

Timeless Spirit³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Rhys Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: P Attwater| OR: 64

6/1

Lightly-raced filly who was better than the result when fifth of 12 in handicap at Nottingham (40/1) 36 days ago, headway when denied a clear run. May need further based on pedigree.

Form: 275-5

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(2)

Beta Reader¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Shepherd| T: C Johnston| OR: 63

9/1

Won a handicap at Wolverhampton (11/1) in March but backward step when sixth of 13 in handicap at Kempton (10/1) 14 days ago. No surprise were he to bounce back switched to turf.

Form: 957-166

(3)

William Marshal¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 61

80/1

Has shown little in three career starts, finishing 9th of 11 at Wolverhampton (150/1) 16 days ago. Others more persuasive for this handicap debut over a significantly longer trip.

Form: 609

(9)

Epicurian Lad^v1²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 60

7/2

Stuck to his task when fourth over this C&D but finished 6th of 10 in handicap at Nottingham (15/2) 25 days ago, clearly not in the same form. First-time visor may aid his cause.

Form: 653-446

(6)

Flamborough Head^p¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 59| D

9/2

Won at Redcar in April and ran well when second over this C&D in May, fitted with cheekpieces for the first time. Disappointing when seventh of 10 in a handicap at Redcar (13/2) 16 days ago but return to 1m could be in his favour.

Form: 631427

(8)

Sovereign Class³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S H James| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 58

16/1

Best effort when second of 5 at Musselburgh (9/2) in April and not seen to best effect both starts since, racing freely over 10.2f at Doncaster latest. Back in trip.

Form: 455257

(5)

King At The Races¹⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Connor Beasley| T: G Tutty| OR: 54

16/1

Has barely beaten a rivals in 3 quick AW starts during the winter. Handicap debut back from a break switched to grass.

Form: 88-9

(7)

Precious Spartan⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jason Hart| T: P Neville| OR: 48| CD

2/1

Really strong at the finish when readily landing C&D 6 days ago with visor removed, making good headway before drawing clear. Hard to oppose under a penalty following that convincing success.

Form: 7-84381

(1)

Caledonian Dream¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Rowan Scott| T: A D Brown| OR: 48

28/1

No impact for this yard, albeit he may have needed the run at Redcar a fortnight ago, making headway before weakening.

Form: 38007-6

Forecasts

Precious Spartan (2/1), Epicurian Lad (7/2), Flamborough Head (9/2), Timeless Spirit (6/1), Beta Reader (9/1), Sovereign Class (16/1), King At The Races (16/1), Caledonian Dream (28/1), William Marshal (80/1)

PRECIOUS SPARTAN showed vastly improved form when winning readily over C&D last week and on that evidence, he looks well placed to follow up under a penalty for his new yard. Flamborough Head, a C&D runner-up, is feared most if bouncing back from a below-par effort at Redcar. Epicurian Lad could also get back on track with a first-time visor applied.